Merlot wine: undisputed excellency

Merlot grapes have an extremely thin peel, which is born primarily in damp lands, rich in fat and clay.

Merlot wine is born in France, although its harvest is possible in many other regions as well, thanks to the characteristics of the grapes, which can easily adapt to any climate. Enoteca Properzio is the proud owner of a large selection of the best Merlot wines, both Italian and foreign.

Merlot wine: from the vineyards to its sensory characteristics

The sensory characteristics of Merlot are what make it such an excellent product. Its ruby red color offers shades that are velvety and intense. Its taste is a mix of grassy and woody aromas, which make its structure rich and well-balanced. To the palate, it is strong and persistent (almost solid), while its fragrance releases the smell of forest. Among the strongest smells are those of berries, such as blackberries, cranberries and boysenberries; but one can also grasp the smell of pine needles, oregano and other grassy spices. Merlot vineyards can adapt to different climates, which makes it possible to grow these grapes in geographically diverse areas. In Italy, this wine is produced in many regions, although some are more productive than others, Veneto, Sicily, Trentino-Alto Adige, Friuli-Venezia Giulia and Tuscany. These lands produce the best Italian Merlot wines. Some are quite famous around the world; others are less famous, though still sold with a great quality/price rapport and produced by great professionals.

The best Merlot wines on Enoteca Properzio

Enoteca Properzio possesses many 100% refined Italian Merlot wines. Among these wines are Masseto di Ornellaia, produced in Tuscany, with qualities that are appreciated by the best sommeliers. It is the perfect wine to combine with the gastronomical delicacies of the region, especially with white and red meat. Enoteca Properzio offers bottles from different production years, each with a specific taste and smell. It is, without a doubt, one of the best italian red wines produced in Italy. For this reason, you can purchase these bottles in an elegant and strong casing, perfect for the high quality of the wine. Another Merlot wine that is worth mentioning is Massetino, created from a blend between Merlot and a small percentage of Cabernet Franc. It bodes perfectly with stew and grilled meat, or with cold cuts and cheese.

The best Italian Merlot and much more!

Let us now focus on a 100% French Merlot wine: the Pétrus Pomerol of Chateau Pétrus. The peculiarity of this wine is the presence of cocoa, pepper, and violet aromas. It is a Merlot wine carefully selected during the production stage. The best quality of this bottle is guaranteed by its specific cultivation area: carefully studied lands to allow this Merlot wine to release its maximum potential. It is not by chance that Pétrus Pomerol is famous world-wide. The ideal degustation temperature is between 16 and 18 degrees Celsius. In the Enoteca Properzio catalogue you will find bottles and casings from different production years to be deeply enjoyed.

It is also crucial to keep up to date with wine quotations, as to carefully value the most reliable and trustworthy investments.

Investment wines: learn more about their estimate and how to store them

Regardless of the type of wine, no bottle is the same. They are all valued differently and evaluating a collector’s item requires time.

For those who wish to invest in this sector without having the necessary knowledge, we recommend relying on professionals and wine cellars with years of experience, in order to obtain the best possible result.

If you are curious to learn more about the value of these wine bottles, you must first be patient… It normally takes a few years to reap the fruits of such an investment.

A detail that one must not overlook when speaking of investment wines is that the investment that a bottle of wine creates is calculated as net, without a particular taxation. Such a detail can make a world of difference, especially when searching for the perfect place to store the bottles.

From Italian to foreign wines appreciated around the world, what are the storing techniques for such incredible wine bottles?

How to invest in wine

Since investment wine bottles are an actual asset, they cannot be left lying around the house. There are a few important rules that must be followed and respected in order to maintain the wine’s quality throughout the years and increase the product value. 

First of all, such products must not be exposed to direct sunlight or heat sources, which might ruin their taste and their value. It is recommendable to invest in a carefully studied wine cellar, with stable temperatures and constant humidity, and to rest the bottles horizontally.

Another rule concerns the position of the wine bottle: one must never store bottles upside-down or sideways. Special attention should also be given to the wine label, which must not be ruined.

It is also fundamental to not change the basic room temperature by following the experts’ suggestions. One should protect the wine bottles from possible vibrations and avoid moving them constantly.

But that’s not all! Wine bottles should be protected from strong chemical or natural smells, since they could compromise their taste by entering through the cork.

All these suggestions must be rigorously followed if you wish to create a long-term investment.

How to understand the wine market

Among the best wines on the market one cannot fail to mention Sagrantino, Barolo and Amarone, as well as autochthonous vineyards such as Nebbiolo and Sangiovese.

The selection is large, so it is recommendable to decide what your starting budget will be.

Among the best investment wines, to mention just a few, are Barolo Riserva Monfortino di Conterno, the only Italian wine compared to the French Premier Cru for quality and price, and Sassicaia. Sassicaia is the most known Italian brand around the world, as well as the first one that received a grade of 100/100 from Robert Parker. Any production year of Sassicaia is an investment, as its value will certainly increase with time.

A curiosity: aging wines are considered investment wines, also known as “shelter goods”.

The origins of the Tili cellars

The founder of the Tili family arrived here in Central Italy way back in 1200, as one of Barbarossa’s followers. And his descendants have never left. In 1978, following tradition and the family business, the owner of the company started to bottle the wine. His sole aim was to realise the dream of making the wine recognised, tasted and appreciated worldwide. And this is still happening down to today.

The Tili winery, which produces between 90,000 and 100,000 bottles a year, is now known in the United States, Japan, Denmark, Belgium, Austria, Sweden, Switzerland and Germany. The Tili wines stand out as value products due to the calcareous terrain on which they are grown, a terroir that is particularly permeable and unable to hold rainwater. This enriches the organoleptic profile of the grapes with saline. The strength of this family’s vineyards derives from the excellent geographic and climatic conditions. This combined with special growing techniques and lack of pesticides and weed killers produces wines of the highest quality. Tili products include Assisi Bianco DOC, Assisi Grechetto DOC, Assisi Rosso DOC, Gaudium, Muffa Reale, Assisi Pinot Nero DOC, Sacreterre and Young Assisi Rosso DOC.